Tough week quiets Schumer

Before Weiner’s press conference Monday afternoon, the New York congressman reached out to the senator to tell him he would disclose what had occurred, but Schumer didn’t learn about the extent of the scandal until he watched the press conference on TV — during which Weiner admitted to sending sexually suggestive pictures and messages to at least half a dozen women, including when he was married.

A Schumer spokesman declined to comment on the senator’s conversations with Weiner after Monday.

Schumer also saw little political upside in joining the raging debate in the Senate this week over whether to delay a rule capping fees that banks can charge retailers for processing debit card purchases.

If he joined the push, it would be seen as a proxy battle between him and his Capitol Hill housemate and rival in Senate leadership, Majority Whip Dick Durbin, forcing Democratic senators to choose loyalties between the two men.

Democratic senators may have resented a big Schumer role since the vote already pitted them between two powerful interests: retailers and banks. And there was some concern that if he became a vocal proponent, it could take away from the effort by Montana Sen. Jon Tester, who framed the amendment as a way to help small banks rather than the unpopular financial interests on Wall Street that Schumer represents.

Schumer voted for the Tester plan to delay the swipe-fee rules, but it failed 54-45, six short of the 60 needed for its adoption.

His absence was noticed.

“It was sort of an awkward situation,” said Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), referring to Schumer. “If I were to have been in his shoes, I probably would have voted the way I did but not chosen to poke my housemate in my eye with my vote.”

Asked if Schumer could have made a difference if he played a bigger role, Carper said: “He can be a very effective persuader, so I’m sure he could have added votes to our side during the vote.”

But Tester said Schumer’s relative silence didn’t make much difference one way or another.

“What happened is done,” Tester said Thursday. “Chuck was great, we love him for supporting us and it all worked out the way it was going to work out.”